US authorities have found the remains of a medical transport aircraft that went missing with six people on board flying from Bermuda to Boston, Massachusetts, the US Coast Guard reported. The search for survivors continued in waters off Nantucket Island, an island in Massachusetts.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said it lost contact with the Gulfstream G-100 aircraft shortly after 01:00 local time (05:00 GMT) on Saturday. The aircraft was flying from Bermuda to Boston, and according to FlightAware data, it had taken off from L.F. Wade International Airport in Bermuda at 23:40 local time. It was due to land at Boston Logan International Airport at 01:30 EDT (05:30 GMT).
The Coast Guard said on Saturday evening that search teams had located a debris field confirmed to belong to the aircraft, off the coast of Nantucket. The operation involved ships, helicopters and aircraft, and the operation continued through the night. The Coast Guard said it would issue a new statement on Sunday morning local time.
Authorities have notified the next of kin of the passengers. The group consisted of four Canadian and two Bermudian citizens. According to the registration number published by the Coast Guard, the aircraft belonged to Latitude Air Ambulance, which provides international medical flights for patients returning home. Clarence Togeretz, director of operations at Latitude, told CBC News that among the passengers were two pilots and two medical staff, both Canadian. The crew, he said, had flown to Bermuda for a patient and their family, who were not Canadian.
Data from FlightAware shows that the aircraft dropped significantly in altitude before losing contact, descending from 7,300 metres (24,000 feet) to 3,300 metres (11,000 feet). Radio transmissions, according to the Boston Globe based on footage provided by LiveATC.net, indicate difficulties in communication between air traffic control and the pilot. The controller asked: "Are you coming in blind? Is that what you said?" and "Are you declaring an emergency or not?" The pilot's response was not audible. The controller then said, "You are coming in a little weak, I did not hear your response, did you declare an emergency or not?" Later, it was confirmed that the pilot had declared an emergency.
The dispatcher requested that emergency services be ready to receive the aircraft due to an "electrical problem". Later, it was stated that the aircraft had lost radio and radar contact.
